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Decisions about Breast Cancer Treatment

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Facing Cancer, A Stark Choice

This article, written by author Sara Pope-Parker discusses the trend in preventative mastectomies in the United States. Are those preventative mastectomies necessary ? Read more here. This article was published in the Science Times section of The New York Times on 1/22/13.

Helping Patients Prepare for Cancer Treatment Decisions

This article describes a new service offered by the non-profit foundation, The Cancer Support Community, called "Open to Options." More details of this prgram can be obtained from Cancer Support Community at 1-888-793-9355, or at www.cancersupportcommunity.org/open2options . This program is available in a limited number of sites, as Cancer Support Community will explain. It is funded by a grant from The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

This article in the New York Times, on 3/14/13 by Denise Grady informs the reader of a recent long term study published in the March 14, 2013 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. That research article sheds new light on the risk of radiation induced heart disease whcih can follow breast cancer radiation therapy in the years to follow. Read more here.

Breast Cancer Drugs urged for Healthy, High-Risk Women

This article written by Health Reporter, Denise Grady and published on April 15, 2013 in the New York Times discusses an official recommendation for women at high risk of developing a new breast cancer to consider taking tamoxifen or raloxifene to lower the risk of breast cancer. This article presents a well-balanced consideration of the merits and possible side effects of these medications. Read more here.

Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

This informative guide from the Life Beyond Breast Cancer Foundation provides practical insight at the time of diagnosis, and can be used as a reference throughout the course of treatments for breast cancer. Access this guide by pdf or in printed format from this link.

Guide to Understanding Treatment Decisions

This guide developed by the Life Beyond Breast Cancer Foundation assists in understanding the various options and issues with breast cancer treatment. It can be used throughout the course of treatment for breast cancer. Access this valuable reference in pdf or print format via this link.

Guide to Understanding Hormonal Therapy

Guide to Understanding Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

This guide developed by the Life Beyond Breast Cancer Foundation provides insight into the unique aspects of so called "triple-negative" breast cancer. This refers to breast cancer that does not have Estrogen Receptors (ER negative), Progesterone Negative (PR negative) or HER-2/neu Receptor (Her-2/neu negative). Access this guide in print or pdf format from this link here.

"My Medical Choice," an Essay by Angelina Jolie

Read this essay concerning Angelina Jolie's decision to pursue preventative bilateral mastectomy as her intervention to prevent breast cancer. Angelina learned that she inherited a genetic (BRCA) mutation, that leads to a enormously high life time risk of breast cancer.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network Breast Cancer Guidelines

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network is an organization of 23 leading cancer centers in the United States that have created a centralized group to provide state of the art cancer care recommendations for doctors and patients. Read this organization's handbook for patients, which can be accessed from this link.